'^4 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1658. 



by the sheriff and commissioners to make summons, arrests and 

 executions. Free access to the soldiers was granted, if solicited 

 by the sheriff. No person was to leave without the consent of 

 the commissary, first obtained of the Director-general and council, 

 and subsidies were allowed, " when they can be obtained with least 

 incumbrance to the Swedish nation." Those who had not taken 

 the oath of allegiance were required to do so.^ 



It is probable that the above named petitioners, except Van 

 Dyck, constituted what remained of an organized government at the 

 close of the Swedish authority on the river. The articles of capitula- 

 tion are silent in respect to a continuance of Swedish officers in 

 power, but it would appear that those who remained in the coun- 

 try and took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch government, con- 

 tinued to exercise their functions, in which they seem to have 

 been officially recognized by the Director-general at the meeting 

 at Tinicum. Unfortunately, no record of their official acts has 

 been preserved. 



After the Director-general returned to New Amsterdam, he 

 reported to the Council that the Swedes, after taking the oath 

 of allegiance, desired that in the case of a difference between the 

 crown of Sweden and the Netherlands in Europe, that they might 

 occupy the position of neutrals, Avhich was agreed to. The 

 military officers mentioned at the meeting at Tinicum were at 

 the same time elected to their respective offices.^ 



But the Director in his visit to the South river had found 

 "many things there, not as they ought to be, chiefly smuggling 

 and fraud on the Company's recognitions on goods imported 

 from Holland." The city of Amsterdam being subject to the 

 "same regulations as others," in respect to duties and tolls and 

 all matters connected with the revenue, it became necessary for 

 the West India Company to have an officer of their own, whose 

 jurisdiction in respect to such matters should extend over the 

 whole river. William Beekman, a schepen (alderman) and elder 

 of New Amsterdam, was selected for this position, Avith the title 

 of commissary and vice-director.^ Outside of the New Amstel 

 district he was also charged with the administration of civil and 

 criminal justice and the superintendence of military aftairs. 

 Within that district, as the officer of the city of Amsterdam, 

 this authority was vested in Alrichs. Beekman was to occupy 

 provisonally "the dwelling-house in Fortress Altona," but his 

 permanent residence was to be at or near New Amstel, where he 

 was authorized to hire convenient rooms or a dwelling for a year 

 at the expense of the Company.'' He probably continued to re- 

 side at Altona. 



> Ha/,. Ann. 243, extracted from Albany Rec. xiv. 249. 



2 Haz. Ann. 244; Albany Rec. xiv. 245. 



2 Acrelius, 421. * lb. 421 ; Albany Rec. xiv. 314. 



